Lootera | Hindi Film | Bollywood Movie | Personal Reviews

Sometimes films are made with a sole goal, just entertainment. Sometimes they are made to use the craft at its best to give a message. Sometimes they are simply just made. Lootera is a film which is not made just for the entertainment, it entertains at a level though. The end of the film is inspired by a famous story, The Last Leaf – by O’ Henry (But not the entire film, as it is believed by a lot). It is worth to note that an entire episode of Hindi TV serial Katha Sagar is based on the story – The Last Leaf.

The story of the movie is quite simple. The movie is set in the very early time (around 1955). The background, the locales, the wardrobe, the sets all reflect the time effectively. The art director, dress designer, dialog writers and director deserves full credit for the same.

We see that Pakhi Roy Chaudhary, a daughter of a Zameendar in West Bengal, is a wealthy girl who innocently does some pranks and live life without being much serious. Though while she is watching a theater we got to know that she has Asthma problem and her life will not be going the smoother way. While comforting her, her father reveals that she is his only cause of living and he deliberately loves her so much that he cannot see her in any kind of trouble.

When driving the family car by pursuing her driver let her do so, she literally bangs into Varun, an archeologist came to that village for some research work. Later Varun meets Zameendar, gains his trust and obtains the permission to survey the land belongs to the Zameendar.

During this process Pakhi and Varun falls in for each other. The time runs its way though. Indian government passes the rule to remove the Zameendari tradition. So it is final that the property of the Zameendar will soon be obtained by the government. Varun makes Zameendar meet with a potential customer who wants to buy some precious things from him. The deal was done. Varun also propose the Zameendar to get married with Pakhi and Zameendar accepts the proposal happily.

But, things in the life are not so simple as they look. On the wedding day Varun was found no where. It is also found that some valuable sculptures from the old temple (which belongs to the Zameendar) are also missing. If it is not enough, the currency given by the Varun’s referred customer are also fake! So the world moves upside down for Zameendar, Pakhi and his entire family.

Inspector Singh, the man who has given the case was however a genuine policeman who was determined to leave no stone un-turned in his efforts to capture Varun. Will he be able to capture Varun? What would be the fate of Zameendar after these many setbacks, mainly emotional? Will Pakhi ever be get out of the heartbreak? Why Varun did what he did? We his and Pakhi’s ways will be crossed ever? Where did – The Last Leaf – by O ‘Herny came into picture here? All these, and many more questions are answered by watching them on the screen.

Ranveer Singh, underplays his role for the first time, which is quite opposite to his personality. And he plays well. Sonakshi looks graceful and her get up adds to the same. She plays the role of Pakhi convincingly. This is the first time we see the flair of acting in her. Barun Chanda and Adil Hussain are first rate. The music and songs both are good at places.

Current generation will find the pace of the movie slower. Some scenes which are intended to create – shocking – effect fails to do so. However there are some fantastic scenes also there. Actually the movie works in parts. Sometimes its classic and sometimes you feel boring. The art lovers will like the movie for its detailing and being a genuine cinema for sure.

The locales, sets and dressing are the positive aspects of the movie as mentioned earlier. Youth may not find it convincing that Pakhi still has feelings for Varun even after her life is ruined. Viewer also expect that Varun should be changed after the mishap. And especially towards the end. The current generation may not even link with Zamendari and all, as well.

Overall, the movie is a nice cinematic experience with authentic art segments and some over the top acting. The movie works in parts for art lovers and those who consider cinema as the art. The film fails attract the mass though. You should watch it to get a genuine cinematic experience though.